Domestic Animal Business Permit

A Domestic Animal Business Permit is required from Council if you wish to conduct a business that is;

A Pet Shop.  A 'pet shop' means a shop;

• Situated in a permanent location, and
• Open not less than 5 days a week (excluding a public holiday appointed under the Public Holidays Act 1993), and
• Where a dog, cat rabbit, guineas pig, mouse, reptile, caged bird or any other similar animal of a class or kind prescribed the Domestic (Feral and Nuisances) Animals Act (the Act) and/or the regulations, is offered for sale, sold or bought and sold.

And/or

An enterprise that is run for profit which carries out all or any of the following activities;

• The rearing, training or boarding of dogs or cats, or
• The breeding of dogs or cats, where;
  • The enterprise has more than 10 fertile female animals of either or both species, or,
  • The enterprise has less than 10 fertile female animals but the owner is not a member of an applicable organisation*

* An applicable organisation means an organisation that is declared by the Minister of Primary Industry under section 5A of the Act to be an applicable organisation.

What the Domestic Animal Business Permit Allows

The Domestic Animal Business Permit must be applied for annually.

In general, the Domestic Animal Business Permit gives approval to allow the enterprise to conduct business to sell, buy, rear, train or board; specific types of animals, up to specified numbers of animals, in specified physical arrangements/cages, and for specified lengths of time, with such other conditions as may be considered reasonable in the circumstances.

Failure to maintain full compliance with the conditions in the Permit could lead to withdrawal or cancellation of the existing Domestic Animal Business Permit or to non-issuance of a future Permit.

Permit Conditions

The following requirements must be met when running a Domestic Animal Business:

• The business and the physical location (the property) at which the business is conducted must be in, and remain in, compliance with the Domestic (Feral and Nuisance) Animals Act, Regulations and the appropriate 'code/s of conduct' for the type/s of animal business being conducted.

How to Prepare and What to Include In Your Application

Follow the steps below to prepare your application for a Domestic Animal Business Permit:

1. Obtain written approval from Councils Planning Services.  That approval must indicate that the intended use of the property is in compliance with the planning/zoning arrangements.
2. Download a copy of the;
   1. City of Whittlesea Domestic Animal Business Permit Guidelines
   2. Code of Practice relevant to the type of domestic animal business
   3. Application form from the Forms and Guides section, and a
   4. Self-assessment Report for the relevant type of domestic animal business from the RELATED DOWNLOADS box.
3. Arrange public liability insurance of at least $10 million.
4. Organise the permit fee of $200.

How to Lodge Your Application

You may lodge your application by mail or in person.  If you wish to send it by mail, place the following items in an envelope and post them to:
City of Whittlesea
Locked Bag 1
BUNDOORA MDC  VIC  3083

• A completed and signed Application form, from the FORMS & GUIDES section below
• A signed copy of the Guidelines
• A signed copy of the Code of Practice
• A completed and signed copy of the self-assessment report
• A photocopy of Councils Planning Services written approval
• A legible copy of the current public liability policy and
• The $200 annual permit fee - note that payment must be made by cheque if lodging by mail.

If you wish to lodge your application in person, bring the items listed above to the Local Laws counter at the Civic Centre. Payment can be made by cheque, cash, credit card or EFTPOS.

Application Approval Process

A confirmation of receipt of your Application will be posted out within 7 days of lodgement.

Before the issue of the Domestic Animal Business Permit, the property must be inspected by an Authorised Officer to ensure accuracy of the self-assessment report and to ensure ongoing compliance with the Act, Regulations and Code/s.

Also note the property will be subject at least one 'un-announced' inspection each year to ensure ongoing compliance with the Act, regulations and Code/s.

Failure to maintain compliance with the Act, regulations and Code/s could lead to withdrawal or cancellation of the existing Domestic Animal Business Permit or to non-issuing of a future Permit.

Need More Information?

Contact the Local Laws Unit, 8:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) on (03) 9217 2100 or info@whittlesea.vic.gov.au.